Four children taken from squalor, drugs in motel room

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By Don Reiddwreid@aol.com

The Daily Reporter - Coldwater, MI

By Don Reiddwreid@aol.com

Posted Mar. 21, 2014 at 9:24 AM

By Don Reiddwreid@aol.com

Posted Mar. 21, 2014 at 9:24 AM

Coldwater, Mich.

COLDWATER — Four young children under the age of five were found in a garbage-strewn, roach-infested room at the Coldwater Inn Wednesday night when Michigan State Police (MSP) acted on a drug tip and obtained a search warrant.

Jeffrey Cole, 27, the father of the children, was charged with possession with intent to deliver meth after four grams of meth were located in locked box on a small table by the door. He told troopers he gave it to friends "so they could share the fun." He faces 20-years prison. He told troopers he had a $700 a month habit.

The mother, Kendra Cole, 30, said she has used meth since age 19. She was charged with possession after a half gram was found in her purse. That is a 10-year felony.

Child Protective Services (CPS) took custody of the children and placed them in foster care.

"Even if you were not incarcerated, I would not release (the children) to your care," Probate Court referee John Howard told the couple. "They are at substantial risk."

All four kids played happily with the foster parents and case workers in the court office before the hearing.

Troopers and case worker Misty Roloff found three of the four sleeping on the dirty motel room floor. The boy was a foot away from a plastic bag. There was a marijuana pipe on the bed next to another. In the bathroom, a sharp knife was on the toilet. There were also syringes in the room.

There was white powder in the room but the mother claimed it was Ajax cleaner. She denied any of the drug items were hers.

While Jeffrey admitted he used meth that day, Kendra claimed she had not used since the day before but she tested positive for the drug.

Earlier in the week the mother said the couple took the kids to the Cadet Motor lodge for a "couple of days" for a change of scenery. They had been living at the Coldwater Inn at 180 East Chicago Road at the west Coldwater city limits since last summer.

While they were gone, she claimed someone broke into their room and took a refrigerator cord and their food spoiled. There was bread, milk and ham salad there purchased on a daily basis.

The couple had been moving around the country from Texas, Arkansas, Missouri to Michigan. In July 2010, CPS in St. Louis had taken custody of two children for eight months.

According to CPS records, the mother had mental health as well as drug addiction issues. She also said there was domestic violence between herself and her husband with both hitting each other in front of the children. Both denied using drugs in front of the kids.

Page 2 of 2 - Kendra Cole was held without bond for violation of her probation after she was sentenced in December for impaired driving. She had failed to report to probation.

Bother parents have out-of-state criminal histories. She has been convicted of burglary and forgery and sent to prison, it was stated in court. He has a record including offering a person for prostitution.